Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2023-24: Hotel California

[LeapOnOver]

I’m convinced that media types often spout crap about the Isles only to get their small but loud fanbase to attack them. Essentially what Bissonette just said in his quote. The back and forth makes for good social media PR.

I'm convinced most of these guys don't actually watch the games. They just watch highlights. Islanders played a lot of fun games in October and November, especially the comeback nights. These are not Barry Trotz's Islanders anymore. At times it's been wild west hockey. Yes, it's boring when we watch as Islander fans and they can't score, but that's been the last 12 games or so. Not earlier in the season. And watching Sorokin's athleticism is always enjoyable.

 

[IslesNorway]

Isles aren't trading anyone. Only if they lose 10 in a row again will they be looking at that. After adding Horvat it shows Lou clearly believes this is a playoff team and they will not trade away any vets.
It will be more picks and prospects moved.

Scorched earth.

 

[Throttle]

Isles aren't trading anyone. Only if they lose 10 in a row again will they be looking at that. After adding Horvat it shows Lou clearly believes this is a playoff team and they will not trade away any vets.
It will be more picks and prospects moved.

Scorched earth.

But he did trade an actual player for a player that fans also seemed to think was some issue because he didn’t do it. And even traded a guy well underperforming his contract that still had another year on it - that again, fans routinely said was untradeable, but wanted him gone.

 

[NC 1972]

It's odd that Lou asked for retention on Horvat when the team was expected to have 10mil in deadline cap space. It got me thinking; is Lou trying to pick up 2 high end pieces, or is this about Kane?

There is 0 benefit in the retention if this is not his plan. I can't think of 2 players with a combined cap of about 10+ million that would be available, so if I'm a betting man, as crazy as it sounds, I think Lou has Kane as his top priority...

Saw on NHL Network last night that Kane has a hip injury.

 

[NC 1972]

I've seen a couple of positive comments about Palmieri since his return, but not many (enough). I think he has looked very good since his return. And, I agree...keep that line together.

Palmieri has been noticeable, all around the puck tons of chances yet no results call it lack of puck luck or whatever, when will he become the goal scorer we need?

 

[Le Grec]

Saw on NHL Network last night that Kane has a hip injury.

Fair enough, but to my original point, there is no need for a team with 10mil in cap space to ask for more unless they intend on big game hunting. Maybe it's Tarasenko and a D man? No clue, but it tells me Lou is planning on making a massive splash.

Having said that, the cupboard is bare. I don't know what he can get with the remaining assets available...

 

[IslesNorway]

But he did trade an actual player for a player that fans also seemed to think was some issue because he didn’t do it. And even traded a guy well underperforming his contract that still had another year on it - that again, fans routinely said was untradeable, but wanted him gone.

Indeed, but that's not the same as trading away vets for prospects and picks. The Islanders are NOT trading Nelson or Pageau for picks now. Currently they are not looking at trading Mayfield or Varlamov for picks unless they fall totally out of the playoff race. On the contrary Lou believes they are well in it and traded for Horvat to get in. Why the hell would Lou suddenly start trading away the vets AND expecting Horvat to sign long term? Horvat is not gonna sign with the Isles to be part of a rebuild.

I think Horvat treats this an audition of sorts. He hold all the cards and decides his own future. If he likes what the Isles can offer for years to come he should sign long term, but if the slide continues and they are out of the playoff picture by the TDL, then what? Lou took a huge gamble doing the trade without an extension in place and the Isles cannot afford another Vanek style debacle.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

Indeed, but that's not the same as trading away vets for prospects and picks. The Islanders are NOT trading Nelson or Pageau for picks now. Currently they are not looking at trading Mayfield or Varlamov for picks unless they fall totally out of the playoff race. On the contrary Lou believes they are well in it and traded for Horvat to get in. Why the hell would Lou suddenly start trading away the vets AND expecting Horvat to sign long term? Horvat is not gonna sign with the Isles to be part of a rebuild.

I think Horvat treats this an audition of sorts. He hold all the cards and decides his own future. If he likes what the Isles can offer for years to come he should sign long term, but if the slide continues and they are out of the playoff picture by the TDL, then what? Lou took a huge gamble doing the trade without an extension in place and the Isles cannot afford another Vanek style debacle.

I agree that Lou is not trading vets for picks this year (unless the wheels completely fall off). I also agree that Horvat probably doesn't sign here to be part of a rebuild. However, I don't think that missing the playoffs this year would necessarily be a deciding factor in him going to test the market. If he's convinced that the Islanders strategy during the majority of his tenure here will be to win, he'll be inclined to sign.

 

[SayItAintSoJohnny]

Personally I dont like the audition part of this (sometimes even with the great players it takes awhile for them to get going with a new squad) but it has to be what this trade is all about since we didn't get an immediate extension.

I understand we were really struggling with scoring and our power play was abysmal and adding 1 of the 3 players in the NHL who had 30+ goals and was in the top ten in PP tallies is the best way to fix that, not to mention giving us another Top 20 face-off guy (with Pageau- another reason that I think the trading him talk is absolute nonsense) is the clearest way to remedy what ails us; but I am skeptical on what Lou will do if in fact this doesn't get us going.

Mayfield and Varlamov minimum have to be moved if we don't right this ship during this "audition" or we really risk this trade being a real stinker.

Best case is we get Dobson back immediately and go on a little run with our new shiny toy and then make some positive upgrades closer to the deadline....

I am trying to be positive about it all since we just traded for a really really good player....

 

[Throttle]

Indeed, but that's not the same as trading away vets for prospects and picks. The Islanders are NOT trading Nelson or Pageau for picks now. Currently they are not looking at trading Mayfield or Varlamov for picks unless they fall totally out of the playoff race. On the contrary Lou believes they are well in it and traded for Horvat to get in. Why the hell would Lou suddenly start trading away the vets AND expecting Horvat to sign long term? Horvat is not gonna sign with the Isles to be part of a rebuild.

I think Horvat treats this an audition of sorts. He hold all the cards and decides his own future. If he likes what the Isles can offer for years to come he should sign long term, but if the slide continues and they are out of the playoff picture by the TDL, then what? Lou took a huge gamble doing the trade without an extension in place and the Isles cannot afford another Vanek style debacle.

Maybe Lou is seeing how this team (and certain players) play with added help, talent, and goal scoring?

Does he ship out another player since that player is still not clicking? Or does he see how the market shakes out in a buyers market?

It is going to be extremely hard this summer to free up cap space for a lot of teams. This UFA class does not have a lot of options on where to play for their price tags and bidding wars are just not gonna happen.

For example, if Yzerman is trying to hold the line on Larkin, doubt he then takes the same cash and uses it on Horvat. And does Horvat want to play on a team that’s still in rebuild mode - adding him doesn’t even advance their cause.

 

[beach]

Palmieri has been noticeable, all around the puck tons of chances yet no results call it lack of puck luck or whatever, when will he become the goal scorer we need?

You've answered your own question....

 

[IslesNorway]

If Horvat doesn't resign by the TDL he should be moved on. Period. By then Lou should have sussed him out regarding staying or not. The last thing we need is giving up good assets for nothing and ending up like the Tavares situation all over again. Give him a deadline to sign. It's that simple.

 

[Throttle]

If Horvat doesn't resign by the TDL he should be moved on. Period. By then Lou should have sussed him out regarding staying or not. The last thing we need is giving up good assets for nothing and ending up like the Tavares situation all over again. Give him a deadline to sign. It's that simple.

Stop benchmarking every UFA ‘needs to sign’ like Tavares.

Should Boston trade Pasta, if he hasn’t resigned by the deadline?

 

[doublechili]

It's entirely possible that Lou has an agreement with Horvat but he doesn't want to announce it until after the TDL passes. That would make things fun around here.

 

[danteipp]

Stop benchmarking every UFA ‘needs to sign’ like Tavares.

Should Boston trade Pasta, if he hasn’t resigned by the deadline?

Absolutely! They should trade Pasta to the Isles for two seconds and Salo.

 

[Mike C]

Absolutely! They should trade Pasta to the Isles for two seconds and Salo.

throw bailey back to them and a dunkin' donut franchise to Davey "thank's Pasta"

 

[Throttle]

It's entirely possible that Lou has an agreement with Horvat but he doesn't want to announce it until after the TDL passes. That would make things fun around here.

What UFA that Lou traded for, has walked?

I think Horvat will be signed. If anything, the ASG pause gives him and his agent time to make it all happen. And let’s Horvat understand the market for UFA in the summer (if he already hasn’t briefed - doubt it) on rolling like Johnny Trademark…

 

[doublechili]

What UFA that Lou traded for, has walked?

I think Horvat will be signed. If anything, the ASG pause gives him and his agent time to make it all happen.

Not to mention they can't have a press conference at UBS to announce the signing if he's at the ASG. So I'd say we can't expect anything until the ASG is done and he's on LI. Or after the TDL.

 

[IslesNorway]

Stop benchmarking every UFA ‘needs to sign’ like Tavares.

Should Boston trade Pasta, if he hasn’t resigned by the deadline?

Not comparable. They are looking to win, Isles aren't winning either which way we are looking at it. Nor did they just give up a lot to trade for him.
Would you be happy to have Horvat for 30 games and then watch him walk? If that happens it's a disaster, especially if the other UFAs are allowed to walk too. If Horvat won't sign it would make Lou look pretty stupid, and I don't think Lou would stand for that.

I really hope he signs but I also think that Lou needs to be ruthless. The interests of the club is bigger than the interests of any one player.

 

[Taswell]

It's entirely possible that Lou has an agreement with Horvat but he doesn't want to announce it until after the TDL passes. That would make things fun around here.

That's actually entirely likely with the way Lou doesn't like other GMs to know how much capspace he is working with.

Wouldn't be good for our blood pressure, but I can see it for sure.

 

[periferal]

A very fair and informed article. Would hope every Isles fan reads it and fully digests all Kurz is putting forth...

 

[Throttle]

Not to mention they can't have a press conference at UBS to announce the signing if he's at the ASG. So I'd say we can't expect anything until the ASG is done and he's on LI. Or after the TDL.

Well, he was at Disney World, which is Long Island South, so he coulda stepped up to a podium in front the Vacation Club sign and felt right at home.

The Atheltic - ‘articles’ written to appease fans. Shocked the headline would be about ‘Lou’s last stand’ - everything in the negative.

 

[Throttle]

Not comparable. They are looking to win, Isles aren't winning either which way we are looking at it. Nor did they just give up a lot to trade for him.
Would you be happy to have Horvat for 30 games and then watch him walk? If that happens it's a disaster, especially if the other UFAs are allowed to walk too. If Horvat won't sign it would make Lou look pretty stupid, and I don't think Lou would stand for that.

I really hope he signs but I also think that Lou needs to be ruthless. The interests of the club is bigger than the interests of any one player.

Is this the old: no one classifies the Isles as a contender, so sell, sell, sell and rebuild.

If that’s the case, then that’s 100% indictment on the first round underperforming and overpaid schmucks on this team the franchise just spent 5-10 years of building behind Tavares.

 

[impaaaaaact]

For shits and giggles I ran a simulation with the roster into NHL '23. we did *not* make the playoffs, so I sold Horvat, Mayfield, and Varlamov at the deadline. Ended up with a first, 2 seconds, and David Jiricek - plus our pick was protected, so ended up with the #7 overall this season. Because we got Jiricek, I packaged Romanov and a second with the late first to move back into the top 10, ending up with two top ten picks. Signed Bo as a UFA in the offseason. Not mad at it!

 

[periferal]

What UFA that Lou traded for, has walked?

Point taken. I think Horvat is getting resigned (The problem is that, unlike Pageau who came with a contract, Lou has to be willing to overpay now to not have egg on his face).

Also, in case things go sideways and Horvat doesn't want to resign...What pending UFA has Lou ever traded?